Wine Commission Survey Request Pt 2

With today's Fruit Grower Report, I'm Bob Larson. The question for wineries and wine grape growers is, "have you filled out your industry research survey yet?"

Washington Wine Commission Research Program Manager, Melissa Hansen says it's for the continued success of the industry ...

MELISSA HANSEN-3 = 8 ... "The bigger the industry, you know, the more problems, the more we need research to help sustain, to help keep the industry profitable."

Hansen says wine research in our state has already come up with findings that are now industry standards ...

MELISSA HANSEN ... "There is research that has helped develop a cold-hardiness model that helps growers in the winter and right now, Springtime, to know whether or not temperatures are going to drop low enough for them to be concerned. Do they need to turn on their wind machines to protect the vines? Do they need to do some type of protective measure? That was a game-changer. That's being used across the state. Irrigation research has reduced the use of water by about 50% in red wine grape varieties. And not only does it reduced the water, but it's really improved our overall wine quality, So, there are a number of things that once that research gets out and is adapted by industry, it really is, like you said, a game changer."

The Wine Commission encourages all Washington wine industry members who utilize viticulture and enology research to participate in the short survey.

Contact the Wine Commission for more information.